Pitchfork

That's right you hyper-literate slackers: put down the Pynchon and the peace pipe for a moment, and bask in the good news for people who love Pavement: Stephen Malkmus is putting together a new album (with his trusty Jicks, one assumes), and according to his official website and confirmed by Matador, he's just narrowly more than two-thirds done with it!

Spake the scribe at Malkmus' web-home, "basic trax for album committed to tape...67.4685% completed...Looks to be done sometime in Late June." Pessimists take note: the new Malkmus album is 32.5315% not completed.

"Apparently, the songs are so BIG that Matador is pushing for an early 2008 release."

So there you have it! Mr. Stephen Malkmus, fresh off a solo appearance at this summer's Pitchfork Music Festival, should have a new artifact out early next year.

Steve-o's also teamed with T.J. Doherty, perhaps the only living human being cool enough to have worked with both Steely Dan and the Rapture. T.J. "kept an eye on the meters," which leads us to believe he assisted in some sort of production capacity.

BONUS: HUGH MILLER POINTS US IN THE DIRECTION OF PHOTOS FROM THE RECORDING SESSIONS. SWEET!

As for that P4k fest appearance, Malkmus' interweb doppelgänger had a few words on that as well: "[Latest Jicks initiate] Janet Weiss is busy this summer pushing tempo for Bright Eyes, so Chicago gets just one Jick. I've seen him do the solo thing, and i hate to say its ......not........ exactly....... Genius. Still, you get the dude and his voice and some strumming; I say check it out."

If you won't settle for anything less than Genius, then you probably shouldn't purchase festival tickets here immediately.

Malkmus and his Jicks also play the Green Man Festival, from August 17-19 at Wales' Brecon Beacons National Park. Check out the Malkmus statement/update-- a good read-- in full, just beyond the pale...er, the jump.

1. basic trax for album committed to tape
Album Tracked in Northern Montana-- 67.4685% completed.
Tj Doherty, fresh from a Donald Fagen session in Kauai, kept an eye on the meters. The bears were just coming out of Hibernation; it was easy to stay indoors and focus on the riffage. Looks to be done sometime in Late June. Apparently, the songs are so BIG that Matador is pushing for an early 2008 release. "THe world needs preparation, preparation, preparation H!!!!" said one intern at the label.

2. Malk goes it alone at pitchfork festival.....
Janet Weiss is busy this summer pushing tempo for Bright Eyes, so Chicago gets just one Jick.
I've seen him do the solo thing, and i hate to say its ......not........ exactly....... Genius. Still, you get the dude and his voice and some strumming; I say check it out

3. Green Man: Jicks play for another Hemp Enthralled mass ---August 15th (or so)
The Full Team will be Wales for the English version of Burning Man.
Not long after the Jicks hit the stage, a giant Green Man will appear. He will menace the indie mob, but dont worry, its all under control, all part of the "green man experience". Offer him some grouse wing stew....he will become quite pleasant.